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Better Air Quality
The EPD has been under significant public pressure to improve air quality in recent years. There is growing public dissatisfaction with visible air pollution, as seen in media reports and letters to newspapers. The government allocated $1.4 billion in 1999 to address the problem by reducing motor vehicle emissions. As a result, air quality at street level has shown steady improvements. Meanwhile, Hong Kong and Guangdong agreed in 2002 on targets to reduce regional air pollution.
Monitoring
The EPD monitors air quality at 14 fixed stations, 3 of which are at roadside level. At these roadside stations, levels of respirable suspended particulates have fallen by 19% and nitrogen oxides by 16% since 1999, the year before we started implementing our comprehensive vehicle emission control programme. These figures indicate that our efforts to control emissions from diesel vehicles are succeeding.
The improvement in ambient air quality is not as great as for roadsides because regional air pollution contributes significantly to the overall pollution levels in ambient air. The ambient air concentrations of two diesel-related pollutants, respirable suspended particulates and nitrogen oxides, have dropped respectively by 10% and 1% since 1999.
Photo showing roadside air quality is improving
Table A sets out the compliance status of various monitoring stations with the long-term Air Quality Objectives for major air pollutants in 2002. The hourly Air Pollution Index readings reflect the compliance status of the short-term Air Quality Objectives. The short-term Air Quality Objectives are exceeded when the value of the Air Pollution Index exceeds 100. In 2002, the total number of Air Pollution Index readings exceeding 100 was 1 150, down 38% from 1999.
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Motor Vehicle Pollution
Our motor vehicle emissions programme involves replacing diesel taxis and public light buses with cleaner engines, controlling diesel emissions from the remaining vehicles, and introducing stringent emission standards for new vehicles. The main points are as follows:
Photo of A particulate removal device
- All taxis must switch to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by early 2007. There has been excellent progress, with more than 90% making the switch by the end of 2002. This was funded out of the government's $1.4 billion grant for reducing vehicle emissions.
- Public light buses are being funded to switch to LPG or electric vehicles by 2005. Grants for these buses were made available from August 2002. The government wants the money to go where it is most needed, so grants have not been made available to private light buses, which travel shorter distances and have less air pollution impact. Instead, the government has agreed to waive the first registration tax for LPG private light buses.
- Pre-Euro I diesel vehicles are being retrofitted with particulate removal devices. In the first phase, light diesel vehicles were offered grants to pay for the retrofitting and 80% of these vehicles had been retrofitted by the end of 2002. The grant period is now over. Legislation will be introduced, probably in 2003, to make the devices mandatory. The remaining 20% of light goods vehicles will have to pay for the installation themselves. In the second phase, grants for heavy pre-Euro diesel vehicles started being distributed in late 2002. The first of these grants pays for particulate removal devices to be installed in the 30 000 heavy diesels that operate only within Hong Kong. The grants will run out in mid-2004. Grants are also earmarked for the 10 000 diesels that travel across the boundary and a call for tender was issued in 2002 for retrofitting these vehicles. We are also looking for suitable devices for the 4 000 long-idle vehicles. Eventually, legislation will also make particulate removal devices mandatory for heavy vehicles.
- Older diesel vehicles will eventually be replaced by vehicles with strict emission controls. All newly-registered diesels currently must meet Euro III standards. It is hoped to introduce Euro IV standards in 2006, once these are implemented in Europe. Ultra-low sulphur diesel has also become the only fuel available at petrol stations, as of September 2000, and it became mandatory in 2002.
The number of smoky vehicles seen under our Smoky Vehicle Control Programme has continued to drop. The EPD processed 18 533 smoky vehicle reports in 2002, down 70% from 1999. All vehicles spotted emitting excessive smoke must now undergo a chassis dynamometer test. The test became mandatory for vehicles over 5.5 tonnes in 2002 after earlier being made mandatory for smaller vehicles.
Chart of Vehicle smoke control programme enforcement statistics
Pearl River Delta Air Quality Study
Hong Kong and Guangdong released a joint study report on regional air pollution in April 2002. Among the highlights were:
- Targets agreed on reducing pollution. By 2010 sulphur dioxide will be lowered by 40%, nitrogen oxides by 20%, respirable suspended particulates by 55% and volatile organic compounds by 55%. The base for the targets is l997 emission levels. The targets are considered to be achievable in Hong Kong based on currently available control measures and proposals for further control of power plants and VOC-containing products.
- Four major joint tasks were identified. The first is to develop a regional air quality management plan, which is expected by the end of 2003. The two governments consider emissions trading to be one of the possible options for achieving the emission reduction targets. A study is being carried out to assess the feasibility of implementing an emission trading pilot scheme among some of the power stations in the Pearl River Delta Region. This study will be completed by 2003. The second task is to set up a regional air quality monitoring network, which is planned to be operating by 2004. The third task is to continue updating the pollution inventory and keep a watch on new pollution sources. We are compiling the 2001 regional emission inventory and plan to complete it by 2003. We are also producing a regional handbook on preparing emissions inventories, which will also be completed by end of 2003. The fourth task is to encourage technical exchanges to enhance the capabilities of air programme people on both sides.
Other Air Issues
Consultations were being held on extending vapour recovery controls to refueling operations at petrol stations. Currently, they only apply to bulk delivery of petrol to petrol stations. Preparations are being made to introduce regulations in 2003 to reduce petrol vapour emissions at petrol filling stations during vehicle re-fuelling.
We are also working to introduce a voluntary indoor air quality (IAQ) certification scheme in 2003. The scheme aims to recognise good IAQ management practices and encourage the owners and management of premises to pursue the best IAQ.
Practice notes for managing air quality in air-conditioned public transport facilities are being finalised and will be issued to operators in 2003.
In response to the decisions of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, Hong Kong continues to join in global efforts as it formulates strategies for managing CFCs and other ozone-depleting substances. After receiving positive feedback from consultation with affected parties, the EPD is considering a programme to ban the importation of CFC-containing products such as refrigerators, vehicles and metred-dose inhalers, tentatively by 2005, in step with other advanced countries.
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